Youngspiration convenor Baggio Leung says meeting with Civic Party slated for this week to discuss next year’s race
JEFFIE LAM
JEFFIE.LAM@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 25 November, 2015, 11:40am
UPDATED : Wednesday, 25 November, 2015, 12:54pm
Baggio Leung (third from right) with fellow members of Youngspiration at a press conference this week. Photo: Dickson Lee
Having tasted victory at the District Council polls on Sunday, post-Occupy group Youngspiration is now set for its next fight: the by-election for a legislative seat next year, even if it means a head-to-head battle with pan-democrats.
The city’s three major pan-democratic parties agreed to support Civic Party barrister Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu in next February’s race which was triggered by the resignation of his mentor Ronny Tong Ka-wah.
This morning Youngspiration’s convenor Baggio Leung Chung-heng reiterated his group’s interest in contesting the race and called on pan-democrats to hold a primary ahead of the election.
“We sent an invitation to the Civic Party two months ago for a meeting to explore the possibility of holding a primary,” Leung told Commercial Radio’s On a Clear Day. “That would be the most cost-effective way to let Hongkongers decide.”
The meeting was expected to take place this week, Leung said, as both parties had been heavily engaged in the District Council races in recent months.
Asked about the challenge, Civic Party leader Alan Leong Kah-kit said: “The Civic Party has always supported the rise of the new generation in the political arena, but I hope Youngspiration understands that the New Territories East by-election is not a private matter between two political groups. It involves the pan-democrats’ coordination of resources and election strategy.
“The Civic Party will contact Youngspiration as soon as possible to learn more about their political views, and before such a meeting, we will also discuss Youngspiration’s suggestion with other pan-democratic groups.”
Leong confirmed that Yeung was the only candidate the party’s executive committee had considered. But his bid would only become official if he was endorsed at the party’s general meeting, Leong added.
Speaking separately, Labour Party chairman Lee Cheuk-yan said he believed the pan-democrats’ primary should not only include the Civic Party and Youngspiration, but other pro-democracy groups as well.
“The most important goal is to win the seat, and we have to think of what is the best way to get the most votes,” Lee said.
Some district council candidates inspired by last year’s Occupy protests and nicknamed ‘Umbrella soldiers’, had described themselves as the freshest faces in politics.
But Lee said being a fresh face in politics was not enough to win a Legco seat.
“For Legco, people consider whether you have experience or a group’s backing to be a lawmaker,” the veteran lawmaker said. “You also need to specify what political stance you represent and your views on various policy issues. You need to have a clear stance.”
Meanwhile, Dr Kwong Po-yin, the only Youngspiration candidate who won Sunday, in Whampoa West district, said she would use different means such as street booths and the internet to gauge her constituents’ opinions when dealing with district affairs.
Another member, Yau Wai-ching, who lost her race to lawmaker Priscilla Leung Mei-fun by just 300 votes, said she did not highlight her participation in the 79-day Occupy protests during the election campaign as she did not want to be labelled an ‘Umbrella soldier’.
“I did not join the race simply because of the Umbrella movement ... but because of unresolved deep-rooted conflicts in Hong Kong,” she said. “Voters care more about your manifesto.”
Additional reporting by Tony Cheung
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1883139/election-battle-looms-between-pro-occupy-factions-hong-kong
